Firm Profile > Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP > Tokyo, Japan
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Offices
IZUMI GARDEN TOWER, 28TH FLOOR
1-6-1 ROPPONGI, MINATO-KU
TOKYO 106-6028
Japan
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Dispute resolution: International firms and joint ventures Tier 1
Shinsuke Yakura heads up Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP's dispute resolution team, which represents Japanese and international clients in cross-border litigation and international arbitration proceedings. The team has notable international arbitration capabilities and excels in complex white-collar defence, whistleblowing, anti-bribery and anti-corruption matters. Yakura is a key name for arbitration and litigation proceedings with cross-border elements as well as compliance and regulatory issues. Kazuo Isshiki was promoted to of counsel in 2020 and focuses on IP, antitrust and product liability claims and FCPA and internal investigations, while senior associate Haruka Matsumoto recently handled major cases in the healthcare, IT and financial services sectors. Former practice head Yoshihiro Takatori departed for Kasumigaseki International Law Office in 2020.
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Testimonials
‘The team led by lawyer Shinsuke Yakura responds quickly and accurately to inquiries about contracts and legal issues related to international transactions. In addition to providing legal advice specific to the countries with which it does business, it offers unique solutions for issues related to our company’s intellectual property rights.’
‘We appreciate that Shinsuke Yakura has leadership skills and gives clear and precise answers.’
Key clients
Canon Medical System
Fuji Xerox
Fujifilm Health Care
Morinaga Milk Industry
NEC
Nomura Holdings
Ongakukan
Sanei International
Intellectual property: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2
Clients across the technology, chemicals and food industries, among others, instruct the team of IP lawyers at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in Tokyo. Practice head Shinsuke Yakura combines expertise in IP, cross-border litigation and arbitration, and compliance in leading a practice that represents clients before the Tokyo and Osaka District Courts, IP High Court and Japanese Customs, as well as advising on non-contentious work, including licensing and patent portfolio management. Following the departure of litigator Yoshihiro Takatori in April 2020, of counsel Kazuo Isshiki is the main contact for contentious matters alongside Yakura. Managing associates Masao Fujino and Anri Nakamoto are further key contacts.
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Testimonials
“The IP team at Orrick has excellent capability for all IP issues. Even if the issue is very complicated and multinational licensing one, they can propose very sophisticated solution. They are also fast-working and deliver output on time, even for short notice work.”
Shinsuke Yakura – “He can well connect, control, and communicate the multiple and multinational professionals within a law farm, even in the super complex issues, he can arrange the outputs that are very beneficial to clients.”
“Mr. Anri Nakamoto is an excellent associate of the team.”
“Shinsuke Yakura acts as a strong and strategic leader who provide clients with very thoughtful and useful articles and training sessions that are very productive with highly regarded reputation.”
Key clients
Applied Materials
Bayer Holdings
JVC Kenwood Corporation
Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting
Morinaga Milk Industries Co.
NEC Corporation
Sanei International
Labour and employment: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2
Yumiko Ohta heads up the labour and employment practice at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, which has expertise in acting in employment litigation in the Japanese courts, including the Tokyo District Court and the Labour Tribunal in Japan; the group also provides comprehensive employment advice to clients planning significant changes to their Japanese operations. The team had also had increased instructions relating to new regulations on overwork as well as anti-harassment laws. Clients stem from a range of sectors; the science and technology industries are particular areas of strength.
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Testimonials
‘The team collaborates globally and has high expertise. The team members have deep knowledge and always gave us helpful advice based on their expertise. Their team strength is that even if the issue is out of their expertise, they can collect appropriate information from another team member who is a specialist on the issue.’
‘I have worked with Yumiko Ohta, partner of the Orrick Tokyo Law Office. When an urgent and unexpected case occurred, she visited our office immediately and dealt with it. As she was involved from the beginning, we were able to handle the case well. Her advice and approach were informative and led successfully to the solution.’
Projects and energy: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2
The energy-focused practice at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is led by Yoichi Katayama who has advised the sponsors of some of Japan's biggest renewable energy projects. The team covers both inbound and outbound work and Minako Wakabayashi focuses on representing multinational developers and sponsors on innovative cross-border energy and infrastructure projects that center on renewable energy. Head of Orrick's global oil and gas practice, James Atkin splits his time between London and Toyko and of counsel Yuko Inui is a key contact for permits and real estate matters for inbound renewable energy projects.
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Testimonials
‘Orrick’s team can represent a wide range of commercial transactions in the energy industry.’
‘Yoichi Katayama has participated in a variety of transactions in the energy business since the late ’80s. We have been working with him and his team for over 30 years and always appreciate their legal advice, which is often beyond legal analysis and directly mobilising the commercial deal itself.’
‘Minako Wakabayashi is another talented partner held by Mr. Katayama’s team.’
Key clients
Equis Bioenergy
GE Energy Financial Services
Invenergy Japan
Juwi Shizen Energy
Osaka Gas
Pacifico Energy
Pattern Energy Group LP and Green Power Investment Corporation
Setouchi Future Creations LLC, GE Energy Financial Services
and Kuni Umi Asset Management Co.
Sonnedix Japan
Hergo Japan Energy
Real estate and construction: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2
Following the departure of Toshihiko Tsuchiya in early 2020, Yuko Ino is now the head of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP's real estate practice in Tokyo. The team focuses on high-value property and portfolio acquisitions as well as handling performing and non-performing loan acquisitions, securitisation issues, real estate asset liquidations throughout Asia and cross-border acquisitions and investments by Japanese investors abroad. A standout niche strength for Ino is her expertise in innovative transaction structures; she recently advised on crowdfunding platform structures for real estate investments.
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Key clients
Fortress Investment Group Japan
Great Eagle / Langham Hotels Investment
LaSalle Investment Management K.K.
Loadstar Capital
Morgan Stanley Capital
PGIM Real Estate Finance
Westbrook Partners
Corporate and M&A: International firms and joint ventures Tier 3
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP's recent work demonstrates its notable strength in the technology sector; it provided advice to Mizuho Securities Principal Investment on its cross-over round investment into a US-based life science startup, and assisted Paypal with its investment into the $83m series C-5 financing of Paidy. Hiroki Sugita and Mark Weeks, who splits his time between New York and Tokyo, jointly lead the team and take instructions from a substantial client roster, which includes Rakuten, Toyota Motor and Mizuho Securities.
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Testimonials
‘They are flexible and client oriented.’
‘Knowledgeable about the industry and update if necessary.’
Key clients
Axil Capital Advisors
Daicel Corporation
Hijojo Partners
Liquid
Mizuho Securities Principal Investments Co.
Nippon Soda Co.
PayPal Holdings
Rakuten
Toyota Motor
Tokyo Boeki Holdings
Whill
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP > Firm Profile
The firm: Orrick is a global law firm focused on serving clients in the technology and innovation, energy and infrastructure and finance sectors. Founded more than 150 years ago, the firm today has 1,200 lawyers in offices across Asia, Europe, the United States and Africa, and has been named to Law360’s “Global 20” list of the world’s leading international law firms seven times. Clients worldwide call on Orrick for forward-looking commercial advice on transactions, litigation and compliance matters. Orrick is driven by innovation and was singled out by Financial Times as the Most Innovative Law Firm in North America in 2016 and 2017, and is recognized for innovative work in both Asia and Europe.
The Tokyo-based team collaborates seamlessly with the firm’s offices globally to provide the best and most responsive legal solutions for clients. The firm serves both Japanese clients and international clients doing business in Japan on a full range of transactional and regulatory matters, as well as those requiring dispute resolution.
Areas of practice: Corporate/M&A: Orrick in Japan has a long history of helping clients with cross-border M&As, joint ventures and other commercial transactions. With offices in key jurisdictions around the world, the firm is particularly adept in transactions that span multiple jurisdictions. The firm’s Tokyo-based team also advises global investors with Japan-based interests.
Intellectual property: Orrick is one of the most active law firms representing Japanese multinational companies in sensitive patent and IP matters in Japan, China and the US. Orrick lawyers have secured a string of wins before the International Trade Commission in Section 337 matters and before district and appellate courts throughout the US. Tokyo-based IP lawyers are also known for handling complex disputes in Japanese courts, involving patents, copyrights and trade marks, as well as unfair competition and trade secret actions.
Litigation and dispute resolution: Orrick helps Japanese clients navigate complex multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes on antitrust, product liability, international arbitration, FCPA, UKBA and compliance investigations. The Tokyo team also works with the firm’s global data privacy and cybersecurity lawyers to advise Japanese clients on managing risks across a range of data privacy and cybersecurity-relevant issues. Recently Orrick represented a client in the first international commercial mediation proceeding to be administrated by the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA).
Employment law and HR consultation: Orrick advises on dispute resolution cases in Japan, and consults clients on all legal aspects of their employment and HR strategies in Japanese proceedings in multiple languages and under a variety of arbitral rules and governing laws.
Energy and infrastructure: Orrick has decades of experience advising on complex cross-border energy projects in the power, oil and gas and Renewable Energy. The team plays an active role in the reinvigoration of Japan’s green sector. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry turned to Orrick for structuring Japan’s feed-in tariff policy, designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy. Since 2013, Orrick has acted for Setouchi Future Creation, a special-purpose company consisting of GE Energy Financial Services, Toyo Engineering and Kuni Umi Asset Management, as sponsor of the massive 231.44MW Setouchi Solar Project, which will be the largest PV solar project in Japan when it launches in 2019.
Real estate finance: Orrick advises global investors on their cross-border joint ventures, acquisitions of real estate assets, property developments and complex financing transactions in Japan. The team also helps Japanese real estate investors in all phases of real estate investments, financings, developments, fund formation, leasing and operations overseas.
Technology companies: Orrick advises Japanese and global technology-driven ventures at all stages of growth on a wide range of legal and strategic matters. The team is bringing a ‘Silicon Valley’ style practice to Japan and building connections between entrepreneurial companies and venture capital in the US.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antitrust and competition | Yoshihiro Takatori | ytakatori@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2911 |
| Banking and finance | Yoichi Katayama | ykatayama@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2921 |
| Corporate M&A | Hiroki Sugita | hsugita@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2953 |
| Cybersecurity and data privacy | Yoshihiro Takatori | ytakatori@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2911 |
| Employment | Yumiko Ohta | yohta@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2829 |
| Energy and Infrastructure | Yoichi Katayama | ykatayama@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2921 |
| Fintech | Yuko Ino | yino@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2908 |
| Intellectual property | Shinsuke Yakura | syakura@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2922 |
| International arbitration | Yoshihiro Takatori | `ytakatori@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2911 |
| Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration | Shinsuke Yakura | syakura@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2922 |
| Mass torts and product liability | Yoshihiro Takatori | ytakatori@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2911 |
| Real estate and finance | Toshihiko Tsuchiya | ttsuchiya@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2910 |
| Real Estate and Real Estate Finance | Yuko Ino | yino@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2908 |
| Technology start-up and venture capital representation | Hiroki Sugita | hsugita@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2953 |
| White-collar and corporate investigations | Yoshihiro Takatori | ytakatori@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2911 |
| White-collar and Corporate Investigation | Shinsuke Yakura | syakura@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2922 |
| Structured Finance | Toshihiko Tsuchiya | ttsuchiya@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2910 |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Jae-Hyon Ahn | Of Counsel | View Profile |
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Kane Huang | Senior Associate | View Profile |
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John Inge | Counsel | View Profile |
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Yuko Ino | Partner | View Profile |
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Yuko Inui | Of Counsel | View Profile |
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Kazuo Isshiki | Senior Associate | View Profile |
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Yoichi Katayama | Partner | View Profile |
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Yumiko Ohta | Partner | View Profile |
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Reiko Saito | Senior Associate | View Profile |
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Hiroki Sugita | Partner | View Profile |
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Yoshihiro Takatori | Partner | View Profile |
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Toshihiko Tsuchiya | Partner | View Profile |
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Minako Wakabayashi | Partner | View Profile |
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Mark Weeks | Partner | View Profile |
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Shinsuke Yakura | Partner | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers at this office : 25 in this country : 25 worldwide : 1,200Languages
Chinese English JapaneseComparative Guides
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Italy: Corporate Governance
Published: February 2021
Authors: Alessandro De Nicola Marco Dell’Antonia Federico Urbani
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to Corporate Governance laws and regulations that may occur in Italy.
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United Kingdom: Data Protection & Cyber Security
Published: April 2021
Authors: Keily Blair James LLoyd Heather Egan Sussman Lara Nonninger
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to Data Protection & Cyber Security laws and regulations that may occur in United Kingdom.
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United States: Data Protection & Cyber Security
Published: April 2021
Authors: Heather Egan Sussman Emily S. Tabatabai Tori Downey Kathryn Boyle
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to Data Protection & Cyber Security laws and regulations that may occur in United States.
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Italy: Bribery & Corruption
Published: May 2021
Authors: Alessandro De Nicola Marco Dell’Antonia Riccardo Caselle
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to Bribery & Corruption laws and regulations that may occur in Italy.
Top Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- Intellectual property: International firms and joint ventures
- Labour and employment: International firms and joint ventures
- Projects and energy: International firms and joint ventures
- Real estate and construction: International firms and joint ventures
- Corporate and M&A: International firms and joint ventures